Boris was one of those active Italian Melbourne anarchists. --- His dedication and
enthusiasm for anarchism were elements he preserved until the last hours of his life. ---
Boris Franteschini was born in 1914 in the USA by a family of Italian anarchist
immigrants. --- At the age of 7 he returned to Italy with his family. --- In 1927, due to
the increasing repression in Italy by the fascist regime, the family migrated to Australia
and settled in Melbourne. --- He worked for some time on his father's farm in the outpost
of Melbourne suburb Narre Warren and later as a woodcutter, beethez (or bricklayer as
mentioned elsewhere) and lastly as a marble man. --- In the 1930s and 1940s, Boris
actively participated in a large anarchist group of Italian exiles and immigrants in
Melbourne. --- This group intervened mainly within the Italian community, publishing a
newspaper and taking part in the anti-fascist activity. --- It also provided financial and
other assistance to anarchists from abroad, mainly Italy and Spain.

With the death of the older members of the group, Boris became the man-reporting of the
whole movement after the Second World War.

In the period 1950-1965 there was a strong Italian anarchist group in Melbourne, under the
name of the Italian Anarchist Movement (Italian Anarchist Movement). about 30 people, most
of whom were anarchists who had migrated to Australia. But, unfortunately, this group was
involved in a relative isolation since it was active only within the great Italian
community and not in the general Australian society. They spoke very little English,
while, on the other hand, there was no such anarchist movement in Australia, except for
individual cases, and the third generation Italian-Australians were not interested in
anarchism.

The group called monthly assemblies. They were raising money to boost the anarchist press
in Italy. In their most active phase, they collected thousands of dollars that sent them
to the anarchist movement in Italy to better propagate anarchist ideas. Various anarchists
from abroad were assisted, especially refugees from the Franconian Spain. Even to those
who came to Australia showed their solidarity, with the offer of friendship and direction
in that country.

However, since 1965 the group has begun to decline in number of members. Some of her
members died, others settled in other parts of Australia or returned to Italy. With Boris
Franteschini's death, only four members remained from the team, Amendu Ceccaroni, Jack
Farrello, Raphaele Turco and Bruno Vannini. (the last survivor was Bruno Vannini who died
in the 1990s in Melbourne).

Although this group had relations and contacts with Spanish and Bulgarian anarchists and
in Australia and abroad, just a few years ago it gained some contact with the Australian
anarchist movement and this was achieved in 1985-1986, with the organization of
celebrations and events for the 100 years of anarchism in Australia, which took place in
late April to early May 1986 in Melbourne. On May 3, 1986, Boris Francescini, despite his
serious health condition, took part in the events and spoke about the Melbourne Italian
anarchists and their story.

On May 3, 1986 and despite his illness, Boris Franteschini participated in the events he
was pleased about and renewed his old contacts. Through these contacts, the 60-year-old
presence and activity of the Italian anarchists in Australia became known and the
linguistic gap bridged.

Italian anarchist Boris Franteschini died on 26 August 1986 from cancer.

Today, we still remember Boris Franteschini as a generous and brilliant anarchist, full of
energy and enthusiasm for our common struggle, which kept the flame of anarchism lit for
several decades in an environment often hostile to such ideas.